Acreage survey indicates soybeans over corn

WASHINGTON — The “I” states and the nation are leaning toward more soybean acres in the upcoming growing season, marking only the third time in history U.S. farmers are going to plant more soybeans than corn, according to the March 31 U.S. Department of Agriculture’s prospective plantings report.

Soybeans

Illinois farmers reported they intend to plant a record 11 million soybean acres, up 4% from last year’s 10.6 million. The previous record was 10.8 million in 2018. The 2022 projection is 700,000 acres above 2020.

Indiana is anticipated to have 5.9 million soybean planted acres, 4% higher than the 5.65 million in 2021. The state had 5.75 million acres of soybeans in 2020.

Iowa’s soybean planted acres is projected to increase 3% over last year to 10.4 million in 2022. The state jumped from 9.45 million to 10.1 million soybean acres from 2020 to 2021.

Corn

Prospective planting survey respondents in Illinois indicated they will plant 10.7 million corn acres, a 3% decline from last year’s 11 million. The Prairie State planted 11.3 million acres of corn in 2020.

Indiana producers indicated they will plant 5.1 million corn acres, down 6% from the 5.4 million in 2021 which was unchanged from 2020.

The nation’s corn king, Iowa, is planning to have 12.6 million planted acres, 2% lower than the 12.9 million last year. Iowa planted 13.6 million corn acres two years ago.

Winter Wheat

Illinois farmers are moving toward more winter wheat with 730,000 planted acres, 9% above the 670,000 in 2021. The state’s wheat acres were 570,000 in 2020.

Indiana is reducing winter wheat acres by 9% in 2022, from 340,000 in 2021 to 310,000 this year. There were 300,000 acres in 2020 in the Hoosier State.

Nationwide

Growers intend to plant a record 91 million acres of soybeans in 2022, up 4% from last year. Compared with last year, soybean planted acreage intentions are up or unchanged in 24 of the 29 estimating states.

Increases of 250,000 acres or more of soybeans are anticipated in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota and Tennessee. If realized, the planted area in Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin will be the largest on record.

U.S. corn growers intend to plant 89.5 million acres of corn for all purposes in 2022, down 4% from last year.

Corn planted acreage for 2022 is expected to be down or unchanged from 2021 in 43 of the 48 estimating states. Record high acreage is expected in Nevada and South Dakota. Record low acreage is expected in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Corn acreage decreases from last year of 200,000 or more are expected in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

The 2022 winter wheat planted area is estimated at 34.2 million acres, down less than 1% from the previous estimate, but up 2% from last year. Of the total acreage, approximately 23.7 million acres are hard red winter, 6.89 million acres are soft red winter and 3.62 million acres are white winter. Except for Colorado and Wyoming, much of the western United States is expecting increased planted acres from 2021.

Methodology

The acreage estimates in this report are based primarily on surveys conducted during the first two weeks of March.

The March Agricultural Survey is a probability survey that includes a sample of approximately 73,000 farm operators selected from a list of producers that ensures all operations in the United States have a chance to be selected.

Data from operators was collected by mail, internet, or telephone to obtain information on crop acreage intentions for the 2022 crop year.